I have recently started with the VDH Deluxe Kit. I would like to add a bit better boar brush. A few I am looking at are the Vulfix 404 Mixed Badger and Boar, the Omega 49, Omega Professional, Semogue 1305 or 1470, or any suggestions from y'all for an under $50 boar or mixed brush? Or a badger under $50?

I highly recommend the Omega Badger & Blade Essential Boar available only at West Coast Shaving. The cost is $20 plus postage. Up until I bought one of these brushes I scoffed at boar and snobily decided that badger was the only one for me. How wrong I was. This brush can hold its own against my 10 badgers. I lather only on my face and use creams predominantly and I find this boar well nigh perfect. It has great face-feel, soft tips and firm, flexible shafts; it makes thick and slick lather and more than enough for 3 passes without re-loading; lather flow through is unimpeded for all 3 passes. I don't think you could go wrong by purchasing this brush.

Bob, my personal opinion after using all the brushes mentioned in this thread is to go for a custom with a "The Golden Nib" (Omega) boar knot (my favorite is the 22x50mm knot). You could put together your own brush using a vintage handle or have Steve (Oscar11), Bob (Eskimo, Elite Razor) or Rudy Vey make you a custom brush with that knot (custom option would put it pretty close or possibly over $50 for a boar knot).

If you want a ready-made brush, I would recommend the Semogue 1800 for it's better backbone compared to the SOC and 1305 with tips that are just as soft once broken in, which doesn't take long.

Overall, I prefer the Omega knot but the Semogue handles. Both makes are fantastic, though.

(07-12-2013, 04:43 AM)wimbouman Wrote: Maybe the best value for money available is the B&B essential for 20$ at WCS:

It is out of stock, at the moment IIRC.

Sadly it almost always is. I think they should settle on ONE color and only produce that. The entire point of the brush was to provide a excellent boar brush available at a great price and not a limited edition.
In my opinion the constant color changing is just a sneaky way to make them a limited edition of sorts and prey on folks SBAD causing them to devour stock every single time a new color is released.

Anyway, I'd recommend the Semogue 1800..it is a great all round face and bowl lathering brush with great backbone and very soft tips.

The best price is $19 shipping included here at Vintage Scent, but it will take 7-14 days to arrive as it is direct from Portugal where they are made.

West Coast Shaving here in the states has it for $23 shipping included and their service is excellent.

Do yourself a favor and skip all the gateway boar brushes and get the Semogue SOC Boar Brush. The King of all that is Boar Bristles. I also recommend the Cherrywood Handle over the Ashwood because the darker cherry color looks nicer with the pale bristles.

I just received an Omega 10066 from Phil at Bullgoose. I have several on the "List" to try in the next few months including the Semogue SOC, Vulfix Grosvenor 404, and either the Muhle 31K252-Silvertip Fiber or Edwin Jagger Synthetic. Thanks again for all the help and encouragement!

The 10066 is a good choice, very nice knot and comfortable handle, It was my first decent brush after upgrading from the VDH boar.
I eventually donated it along with some blades/soaps to the 2012 Christmas PIF for some of our boys in Afghanistan..I assume it's still lathering up a storm wherever it is.